What Are Fallen Arches?

If you take a close look an adult foot (from the inside) you will notice an inward/upward curve at the center. This curve is known as an arch, and it’s formed by tendons in the foot and lower leg attached at the heel and foot bones. When these tendons pull and attach normally, the foot forms a normal arch. When the tendons don’t pull together properly, they don’t form any arch. This results in flat feet popularly known as fallen arches.

How to Test Yourself for Fallen Arches

You can test yourself to see if you have flat feet or fallen arches by using a simple home experiment. First, dip your feet in water. Then step on a hard flat surface, like a dry floor or a piece of paper on the floor, where your footprints will show. Step away and examine your foot prints. If you see complete/full imprints of your feet on the floor, you may have fallen arches. However, it’s important to seek a second option from a podiatrist if you suspect you have fallen arches so they can properly diagnose and treat you.

Main Causes of Fallen Arches

Fallen arches in adults are caused by several things. Below are some of the most common causes:

1. Abnormalities present from birth
2. Torn or stretched tendons (resulting from foot injuries or foot strains)
3. Inflammation or damage of the PTT (posterior tibial tendon). The PTT is responsible for connecting the middle of the arch to the ankle and lower leg
4. Dislocated or broken bones (also as a result of injury)
5. Health problems like rheumatoid arthritis
6. Nerve problems
7. Other factors like diabetes, obesity, aging and pregnancy (these factors are known to increase the risk of fallen arches)

Treatment of Fallen Arches

Fallen arches are usually treated using stretching exercises, physical therapy and medication (to reduce inflammation). In extreme cases however, surgery is recommended.

What’s the Difference Between Bunions and Corns?

Foot injuries or deformities that are either not recognized or improperly addressed may lead to considerable functional disability, with a negative impact on quality of life and your ability to perform everyday tasks. Bunions and corns are two common, albeit painful problems affecting the foot. They’re quite different, so it’s essential to understand their exact symptoms in order to make sure you get proper treatment.

Bunions

Bunions are deformities of the big toe joints, when the bursa (the fluid-filled sac providing a cushion between tendons and bones) in the joint becomes inflamed and thickened. When the skin over the big toe joint is subjected to repeated and prolonged stress, it becomes tender and swollen, while the big toe may become displaced and the joint enlarged. Bunions may be caused by wearing shoes that fit poorly, by various degenerative joint diseases such as arthritis and osteoarthritis or may even be inherited. Treatment for bunions includes wearing shoes which conform to the specific shape of your foot and cause no pressure areas on your skin.

But bunions can be properly corrected only by a surgical procedure performed by a specialized podiatrist. Surgery is typical recommended when you experience extreme pain or if they are causing additional problems with the other toes.

Corns

Caused by excessive pressure on the outer layer of the skin, corns occur when two bones of the foot press together or when bones press against the shoe for a prolonged period of time. The most common sites for corns include the fifth toe and the big toe, but soft corns can also occur between the toes. Proper treatment for corns may involve the use of special pads carefully positioned over the corns, altering shoes in order to relieve pressure on the skin or a surgical procedure to remove visible bony prominences causing the corns. Your podiatrist can devise the best treatment to eliminate corns effectively and safely.

Ways to Fix Rough Heels Safely

The summer months are brutal on your feet, especially your heels. Wearing flip flops and sandals everywhere you go, with nothing protecting your feet from the elements can leave you with cracked and rough heels that are unsightly, uncomfortable and, in extreme cases, can lead to infections. Stop your rough heel problem before it gets to that point! Here are three ways to safely fix your rough heels.

Moisturize. One of the main causes of your feet cracking is the fact that your feet aren’t properly moisturized. As the weather changes from the summer warmth to the dry, cold winter, it’s easy for feet to dry out. Thoroughly moisturize your feet as part of your morning or nightly routine to help add moisture and promote healthy skin. In addition to moisturizing your feet, increasing the amount of water you drink in a day helps.

Exfoliate. Regular exfoliation removes dead and calloused skin from your heels, which helps prevent cracking. Foot scrubbers, exfoliating body wash and other exfoliating scrubs gently smooth the rough skin off of your feet. You can also use a pumice stone to thin out the callouses and remove rough patches. Just avoid any kind of grating or blade device that can harbor bacteria or risk injury.

Dead skin and callous removal by a podiatrist. Are your callouses impenetrable and you aren’t making any headway with moisturizing either? A podiatrist has equipment available to remove extensive amounts of dead skin and callouses from your feet safely.

3 Ways to Treat Athlete’s Foot

Your foot starts itching, cracking and even blistering. You made the mistake of walking barefoot in the showers at the gym, or accidentally brushing your foot against someone who has athlete’s foot already. A fungal infection that grows on the skin of your foot, athlete’s foot is annoying and embarrassing. So here are three ways to treat athlete’s foot:

1. Over the counter anti-fungal medication. In most cases, anti-fungal creams, powders and other types of medication take care of the issue. Most of the OTC options are applied directly to the fungal infection. Make sure you wash your hands to avoid spreading the infection to other parts of your body or to other people.
2. Breathable socks and shoes. Create a less hospitable environment for the fungus by wearing cotton socks that help wick away moisture and provide adequate air flow for your feet. Pair that with shoes that have good air flow, such as running sneakers, and you cut down on the chance of another occurrence. Make sure to wear shower shoes when you’re at shared showers to avoid catching it again from another person.
3. Go to the podiatrist. If you have a long-term, painful or severe case of athlete’s foot, you may need medical intervention. Pay attention to the effectiveness of the over the counter medication you use. If you don’t see any improvement in your symptoms, it’s definitely time to get medical assistance. If your feet have severe levels of blisters or peeled skin, you have a major fungal infection that needs immediate treatment. It’s also important to go to the doctor if you catch a bacterial infection due to the existence of the fungal infection on your feet.

How to Treat and Avoid the 3 Most Common Football Injuries to the Foot and Ankle

Recent studies have shown that football is responsible for around 600,000 injuries each year. And each position has its own set of responsibilities and skills, as well as injuries. Whether a football player tackles, blocks, runs, catches or passes, he’s at risk for sprained ankles, fractures, contusions, heel pain, tendonitis, turf toe and blisters.

Let’s take a look at what causes three of the most common football injuries to the foot and ankle, and how you can treat them.

1. Sprained Ankle

A sprained ankle is very common in football – a minor injury meaning damage to the soft tissue, while a partial tear or a complete rupture of the ligament is a major injury.

The best way to treat a minor sprain is to follow the RICE method within the first 72 hours of the injury. RICE (Rest, Ice, Compression and Elevation) reduces the chances of further swelling and damage. If the pain is unbearable, anti-inflammatory medicines can also help. If a more serious injury is suspected, the player should seek medical attention.

2. Turf Toe

Turf toe is usually caused when playing on artificial turf. Because turf is harder than grass, players end up bending their toes upwards excessively when being tackled or lunging, or even just running. Limited joint movement, swelling and pain are some of the major symptoms of turf toe. Therapy is often needed for foot and ankle injuries.

Recommended treatment for turf toe is RICE. Changing to less flexible footwear is another way to protect against turf toe. In the worst cases, operative treatment may be necessary.

3. Achilles Tendonitis

The Achilles tendon is located in the heel and connects the heel bone to the calf muscles. Achilles tendonitis is caused when the tendon is damaged due to continuous force and pressure on the heels.

If a football player is diagnosed with Achilles tendonitis, rest is crucial for the tendon to heal. A temporary heel pad that raises the heel will alleviate the strain on the tendon, and ensure faster and more effective healing.

Most injuries to the foot and ankle can be avoided if players warm up and cool down correctly, stretch adequately, invest in proper shoes for the playing surface and get sports massages to keep muscles loose and flexible.

What Else Could it Be if Not Fungus Under Your Nails?

Many times, if you have an infection in a toenail, it’s caused by fungus. But there are times when that’s not the case. So what else could it be if not fungus under your nails? Paronychia is a type of infection that affects the area surrounding your toenail. This is the “U” shape all around your nail. It may start out as a small infection, which is usually associated with an abscess. This usually coincides with some collected pus underneath the skin.

Paronychia is caused by a bacterial infection that, if it is left untreated, could last for months. Bacteria gathers in the small gap where the nail and cuticle are attached, causing infection. It’s frequently found in people who often have wet feet for prolonged periods such as athletes playing in wet conditions.

If the area of skin next to your nail is sore or tender then this may be a sign that you have a slight infection. If you suspect an infection then you should go to your podiatrist, especially if you have a medical condition like diabetes. Many times, if caught early and with proper care, the bacterial infection can be cured with the help of a medical professional prescribing antibiotics and warm soaks to drain the nail bed. If left untreated, something more serious may be required, such as removal of the nail completely.

How to Treat Ankle Sprains

About 25,000 ankle sprains happen every day – and no wonder. An ankle sprain can happen when stepping on an uneven surface, running and losing your balance or simply moving and suddenly stopping or changing direction. An ankle sprain happens quickly, and more often than not we don’t think much of it when it does. But effectively treating an ankle sprain starts by paying attention immediately, even if the initial pain isn’t very alarming.

Symptoms of a Sprained Ankle

The ligaments on the outer side of your ankle get stretched or torn, and if not treated properly, the problem can become serious, especially if you experience pain along the inner side. Swelling usually follows shortly after the ankle is sprained, and just trying to move the foot will cause a significant amount of pain. However, if the pain is truly severe then the ankle might be fractured.

How to Treat Ankle Sprains

Treating a sprained ankle requires rest and crutches if needed. In order to keep the ankle stable you can wear a brace or wrap. To keep swelling down, place ice on the ankle, but not directly, and keep the ankle elevated.

Avoiding an Injury

A good practice to help avoid ankle sprains is to always warm up before taking part in sporting activities, wear shoes that are comfortable and provide the necessary support, pay attention when walking on uneven surfaces and not taking part in activities you are not conditioned for.